Oyo govt disburses N2bn gratuity to retired LG staff, primary school teachers

By Adejayan Gbenga –

The Oyo State government, led by Governor Seyi Makinde, has released N2 billion as gratuity payments to retired local government staff and public primary school teachers for June and July.

The disbursement ceremony was held at the Local Government Staff Training School, Secretariat, Ibadan.

Chairman of the Local Government Staff Pension Board, Akeem Ige, said the present administration has so far cleared over N25 billion from the inherited N36 billion gratuity backlog. He praised Governor Makinde for consistently improving the welfare of pensioners since assuming office in May 2019.

Permanent Secretary of the Pension Board, Alhaji Lukman Akinola Muraina, advised retirees to avoid middlemen when processing their benefits. He also announced plans to organise a sensitisation training programme for prospective retirees across all geo-political zones of the state.

In his goodwill message, State Secretary of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP), Comrade Olusegun Abatan, commended the governor, saying, “We are no longer dying like fowls. Seyi Makinde increased our monthly pension; the least paid now receives N25,000.”

He further urged pensioners to manage their gratuity prudently.

Also speaking, Comrade Ayobami Adeogun, President of the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), Oyo State chapter, lauded the governor for prioritising the welfare of workers and pensioners. He noted that retirees now receive their monthly payments promptly, without delays or recomputation of benefits.

Other dignitaries at the event included state chairmen of retired primary school teachers and LG staff, local government chairmen, permanent secretaries, and pension board directors. Beneficiaries received symbolic cheque presentations across the state’s geo-political zones.